United Kingdom · guide · 5 September 2026
How to read a Traffic Commissioner public-inquiry written decision
You already have the GOV.UK page. The expensive bit is pulling out who was called, which licence, what findings the Commissioner recorded under the 1995 Act, how positives and negatives were balanced, and what order actually took effect — with the published wording cited. This guide shows how HaulageBrief reads that document.
What a written decision is (and how it differs from A&D)
After a public inquiry, the Traffic Commissioner’s order is always confirmed in writing. In many straightforward cases the decision is given orally on the day and followed by a short written confirmation. In more serious or fact-heavy cases the Commissioner issues full written reasons — evidence, findings, balancing exercise, and directions.
Those published reasons live on GOV.UK under Traffic Commissioner regulatory decisions, separate from the weekly Applications and Decisions (A&D) PDFs. An A&D entry is often a short line in a weekly edition; a public-inquiry written decision is usually a multi-section page naming the operator, licence number, hearing, findings, and orders.
Senior Traffic Commissioner Statutory Document 11 explains when full written reasons are more likely (for example revocation with disqualification, significant factual dispute, or a wider learning point) and sets a non-mandatory structure. Written confirmation of an oral decision is aimed at about five working days; reserved full reasons normally within 28 days of the final hearing (or of a transcript).
The fields that matter on one decision page
Layouts vary — “Written Decision”, “Confirmation of the Traffic Commissioner’s Decision”, or a shorter written-reasons note — but HaulageBrief looks for the same core fields every time.
Traffic area, parties, and licence number
The first block usually states the traffic area (for example North West or Eastern), the operator name and licence reference (goods prefixes such as OC, OF, OH), and any named transport manager or directors also called. Copy the licence number exactly as printed; do not “correct” it. Note whether the page is for goods (Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995) or passenger (Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981).
Hearing and attendance
Look for where and when the inquiry sat, and who attended. Non-attendance is often recorded. Case-management directions (documents to lodge by a date) appear in many call-up summaries; failure to comply is frequently treated as a negative feature.
Background and why the inquiry was called
Typical triggers include DVSA assessments or investigations, prohibitions, fixed penalties, material change, or concern that a transport manager is not exercising effective and continuous management. The background usually also states licence type, authorisation, operating centre(s), and any previous regulatory history.
Findings of fact and breaches of legislation
This is the heart of the document. For goods licences, adverse findings are commonly framed under section 26 (discretionary regulatory grounds — conditions, undertakings, prohibitions, material change, and similar) and section 27 (mandatory continuous requirements such as good repute, financial standing, professional competence / transport manager, and effective establishment). The decision should say which subsections were made out and why. HaulageBrief cites those section references as printed; it does not re-argue them.
Relevant considerations — the balancing exercise
Statutory Document 11 expects positives and negatives to be weighed, and the effect of regulatory action explained. Many decisions cite Upper Tribunal tests associated with Priority Freight (likelihood of future compliance) and Bryan Haulage (whether the operator ought to be put out of business). Read those paragraphs for the Commissioner’s own weighing — not as advice about your fleet.
The order (and when it takes effect)
The operative part is usually labelled Decision (sometimes split for operator and transport manager). Typical outcomes include formal warning; curtailment; suspension; revocation; disqualification of the licence-holder or directors; and TM disqualification, sometimes with a rehabilitation measure such as re-sitting the TM CPC. Note any effective date or time. If surrender was requested and refused, the decision usually explains why.
Appeal and stay markers on the listing
The regulatory-decisions index may prefix a title with UNDER APPEAL, STAY GRANTED PENDING APPEAL, or APPEAL DETERMINED (successful or dismissed). Those markers sit on the collection page and matter for status. HaulageBrief records them when present. Upper Tribunal outcomes are published separately; this guide does not cover how to appeal.
Worked examples · published on GOV.UK
What “reading” looks like in practice
In Ian Hyatt Transport Ltd (OC1050284) (North West; inquiry 10 June 2026; decision 11 June 2026, published 9 July 2026), the Commissioner records findings under sections 26 and 27 of the 1995 Act; revocation; three-year disqualification of the company and controlling director; indefinite disqualification of a passive co-director; and three-year TM disqualification with a requirement to re-pass the TM CPC before reappointment.
In Nored Transport Ltd (OF1137478) (Eastern; inquiry 9 July 2026; confirmation published 17 August 2026), adverse findings include sections 26 and 27(1)(a) on financial standing; the licence is revoked that evening; TM CPC disqualification is not ordered, but repute is recorded as severely tarnished for any future application.
Those pages are the legal record. A HaulageBrief PDF would state parties, licence, hearing, findings as printed, and orders with effective timing — without advocating for either side.
Redactions and confidential passages
Where evidence was heard in private, the published version may omit text marked in bold between square brackets (Statutory Document 11). If the public page is thin on finance or personal detail, that is often deliberate. HaulageBrief does not reconstruct redacted material.
What a £79 HaulageBrief PDF is (and is not)
You paste the public GOV.UK URL of a named public-inquiry written decision (or a named A&D edition — see the A&D reading guide) and name the operator if needed. We send a PDF in 24 hours that states the operator, licence number, and parties called; summarises why the inquiry was listed as published; lists adverse findings and section references as printed; states the orders and any effective date; and cites the published wording. If the page is thin or partly redacted, the PDF says so. If we cannot read a public document, we refund.
What it is not
- Not public-inquiry advocacy. We do not represent anyone before a Traffic Commissioner, draft call-up responses, or prepare a case.
- Not licensing advice. We do not tell you whether to apply, vary, surrender, or how to run the fleet.
- Not O-licence application writing. We do not prepare, lodge, or chase an application, variation, or newspaper notice.
- Not TM CPC training, not an appeal service, and not a substitute for reading the decision or instructing a transport consultant or solicitor.
See the East of England A&D sample Order a £79 sourced reading
Questions
Is a written decision the same as an Applications & Decisions entry?
No. A&D is the weekly traffic-area publication of applications and many routine decisions. A public-inquiry written decision is a separate GOV.UK page (or attached reasons) explaining findings and orders after a hearing. See also How to read an A&D entry. HaulageBrief reads whichever public URL you paste.
Will you represent us at a public inquiry?
No. We do not advocate, appear, or prepare a case. A written-decision brief is a reading of what was published, not representation.
Is this licensing advice?
No. This guide and the £79 PDF are sourced readings of public Traffic Commissioner publications. The Office of the Traffic Commissioner’s document remains the legal record. If you need advice, instruct a transport consultant or solicitor.
What if the decision is under appeal?
The regulatory-decisions listing may flag UNDER APPEAL, STAY GRANTED PENDING APPEAL, or APPEAL DETERMINED. HaulageBrief cites those markers as published; it does not advise on appeal strategy or Upper Tribunal procedure.
Who runs HaulageBrief?
Ellis Greensitt, sole trader, trading as HaulageBrief. English law. See terms and privacy (drafts). Email hello@haulagebrief.co.uk. No telephone.
Sources cited on this page: GOV.UK — Traffic Commissioner regulatory decisions; Statutory Document 11 — Guidance on the format of traffic commissioner decisions; illustrative decisions Ian Hyatt Transport Ltd (OC1050284) and Nored Transport Ltd (OF1137478). Related guide: How to read an A&D entry. Public sector information reused under the Open Government Licence v3.0. HaulageBrief is not the Office of the Traffic Commissioner and is not GOV.UK.